challenging cases in anesthesiology

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurologic condition and a feared complication of eclampsia. It is evidenced by acute neurologic dysfunction secondary to cerebral edema and is typically reversible in nature. Although it is a relatively new diagnosis, an increasing amount of literature has described its occurrence, including an association with hypomagnesemia. We present a case wherein a 24-year-old parturient developed PRES and eclampsia in the setting of symptomatic hypermagnesemia, requiring management with lorazepam after seizures developed...

Cognitive task analysis (CTA) methods are traditionally used to conduct small-sample, in-depth studies. In this case study, CTA methods were adapted for a large multi-site study in which 102 anesthesiologists worked through four different high-fidelity simulated high-consequence incidents. Cognitive interviews were used to elicit decision processes following each simulated incident. In this paper, we highlight three practical challenges that arose: (1) standardizing the interview techniques for use across a large, distributed team of diverse backgrounds; (2) developing effective training; and (3) developing a strategy to analyze the resulting large amount of qualitative data...

During the spring of 2020, as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections rapidly spread across the globe, all sectors of healthcare, everywhere, would change in ways that were unimaginable. Early on, the ambulatory surgery space, being no exception, would suffer deep and impactful reductions in patient volume and revenue. Though actual care stoppages were short-lived, decreased ambulatory surgical patient volumes continued for a myriad of reasons, though in some cases, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) provided surgical care in limited numbers to patients who were "offloaded" from inpatient lists...

This case report describes the anesthetic management of a one-year-old patient with Xia-Gibbs syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation in the AHDC1 gene. The procedure involved calvarial vault remodeling and fronto-orbital advancement to correct a left coronal craniosynostosis. In addition, the patient had a history of seizures and latex-fruit syndrome, which necessitated careful preoperative planning and management. Despite the difficulties provided by the patient's cranial abnormalities and the paucity of literature on anesthetic experiences with the condition, the treatment was completed successfully and without complications...

BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM) is a rare disorder mainly characterized by dilatation and malacia of the trachea and major bronchi with diverticularization. This will be a great challenge for airway management, especially in thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation. Using a laryngeal mask airway and a modified double-lumen Foley catheter (DFC) as a "blocker" may achieve one-lung ventilation. This is the first report introducing this method in a patient with TBM. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 64-year-old man with TBM receiving left lower lobectomy...

Giant ovarian tumors are rare, as most cases are diagnosed during routine gynecological check-ups or abdominal ultrasound examinations. They are a challenge for gynecologists and surgeons. Diagnosis in such patients is difficult due to the limitations of the medical apparatus. Perioperative management requires specialized anesthetic medical care and is associated with high mortality. The paper presents the case of a 23-year-old woman with a giant ovarian serous tumor, characterized by an enlargement of the abdominal circumference, periodic abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and infertility...

The pilot project of pre-anesthetic evaluation through telemedicine at the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital (HUPE) of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) is a commendable initiative that aims to address the challenges faced by patients in accessing preoperative care. The objective of this study was to reduce the waiting time between the surgical recommendation and its clinical clearance for the procedure. A service flow was established to enable patients to undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including examination and complementary tests, during a single visit with a general practitioner...

BACKGROUND: Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) commonly occurs in critical care unit (CCU) patients, but timely diagnosis can be challenging. Therefore, new biomarkers, such as serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), could help to improve early identification of patients with this condition. METHODS: CIP was diagnosed or excluded with neurological assessment and nerve conduction measurement in a prospective study of CCU patients. sNfL and secondary predictors for neuropathy (neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100, folic acid, and vitamin B<inf>12</inf>) were measured at admission...

BACKGROUND: Perioperative newly developed left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus is a rare but extremely challenging event for anesthesia management. It's important to identify and diagnose thrombosis in high-risk populations promptly. CASE PRESENTATION: In the case of an elderly patient with atrial fibrillation undergoing non-cardiac surgery, we recorded the findings before and after thrombosis during the operation using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Through timely detection of the thrombus and proactive management, a satisfactory therapeutic effect was ultimately achieved...

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are rare genetic diseases involving pathologic proteins in the neuromuscular junction. Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility is a genetic disorder involving a hypermetabolic response to volatile anesthetics and depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. We present the first reported case of a 3-year-old boy with both congenital myasthenic syndrome and malignant hyperthermia susceptibility, resulting from a mutation in the ryanodine receptor type 1 gene, who underwent an adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnea...

PURPOSE: Timely diagnosis of perioperative stroke is challenging, and therapeutic interventions are infrequently offered. The cortical hand syndrome is a rare stroke presentation that results from infarction of the precentral gyrus leading to variable neurologic deficits mimicking peripheral nerve injuries, with no prior reports in the perioperative setting. To raise awareness of this complication among anesthesiologists, we present a case of cortical hand syndrome in a surgical patient initially suspected to have a peripheral neuropathy...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): To optimize multidisciplinary collaboration in the setting of limited resources to increase the efficiency of complex brachytherapy workflow for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS: High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a critical component in the treatment of women with locally advanced cervical cancer. The completion of HDR brachytherapy to provide a complete treatment of concurrent chemoradiation and brachytherapy of <56 days has been well established...

INTRODUCTION: This international survey explored the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on pediatric anesthesiology. It assessed COVID-19's impact on the practice of pediatric anesthesiology, staffing, job satisfaction, and retention at the beginning of 2022 and addressed what should be done to ameliorate COVID-19's impact and what initiatives hospitals had implemented. METHODS: This survey focused on five major domains: equipment/medication, vaccination/testing, staffing, burnout, and economic repercussions...

BACKGROUND: Checkpoint inhibitor-induced overlap syndrome ([OS] myocarditis, and myositis with or without myasthenia gravis) is rare but life-threatening. CASES PRESENTATION: Here we present a case series of four cancer patients that developed OS. High troponinemia raised the concern for myocarditis in all the cases. However, the predominant clinical feature differed among the cases. Two patients showed marked myocarditis with a shorter hospital stay. The other two patients had a prolonged ICU stay due to severe neuromuscular involvement secondary to myositis and myasthenia gravis...

INTRODUCTION: Herein, we describe a case of Meigs' syndrome, a complex condition that poses a challenge for anesthesiologists to manage. Good anesthetic management of this syndrome is necessary to preserve the prognosis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 80-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, particularly in the left lower abdomen, with aggravation after activity. The patient was unable to sleep in a supine position...

Eagle's syndrome is a condition characterized by elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the styloid ligament that can manifest as a constellation of symptoms including dysphagia, globus sensation, hoarseness, headache, and neck pain. Anatomically, this can impinge neurovascular structures, distort the hypopharynx, and stiffen the epiglottis and other pharyngeal structures, increasing the difficulty of airway management. The objective of this case study was to discuss the features of Eagle's syndrome and anesthetic considerations in the management of the condition...

PURPOSE: Anatomically correct patient-specific models made from medical imaging can be printed on a three-dimensional (3D) printer or turned into a virtual reality (VR) program. Until recently, use in anesthesia has been limited. In 2019, the anesthesia department at Tel Aviv Medical Center launched a 3D program with the aim of using 3D modelling to assist in preoperative anesthesia planning. METHODS: A retrospective review of all relevant patients between July 2019 and June 2021 referred for preoperative airway planning with 3D modelling...

Nasotracheal intubation is an essential component of anesthetic management for intraoral and mandibular surgeries. Direct nasotracheal intubation can occasionally be difficult and require an initial oral endotracheal tube (ETT) placement with subsequent conversion to a nasal ETT. Numerous techniques have been described. However, execution can be challenging and limited by available resources. This report re-examines conventional oral to nasal ETT conversion techniques and describes another innovative approach utilizing equipment more readily available in the operating room or as an option when difficulty is encountered with conventional conversion techniques...

Differential diagnosis of the underlying cause of new-onset total body paralysis can be challenging and unsatisfying. In akinetic mutism, a rare side effect of tacrolimus, patients become apathetic, mute, and lose voluntary muscle movement. Epidural subarachnoid migration can present with similar symptoms. Delayed emergence/paralysis after anesthesia can include the common culprits of residual operative medications, stroke, as well as tacrolimus-induced akinetic mutism and thoracic epidural migration. We present a case of new-onset total body paralysis, presenting on postoperative day 1 following a double-lung transplant in a patient started on tacrolimus with a thoracic epidural catheter in place...

Anesthetic considerations for adults with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, part of the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) hamartoma tumor syndrome, are not well described. As patients may require surgical intervention for associated musculoskeletal, intestinal, oncologic, or soft tissue masses, knowledge of implications of anesthesia is necessary. Airway management may be challenging given macrocephaly and accumulation of lymphangiomatous tissue in the oro/hypopharynx. This report describes a patient with typical features, nonreassuring external airway anatomy, and developmental delay, which precluded an awake airway management technique...